Hi all, planning a trip with my 2012 Honda Rebel 250. Wondering what the best options are for luggage. Found some bags that state they install over the Pillion seat. Has anyone used these? Also wondering if it may be better to remove rear seat and install rack instead to strap luggage onto - is that possible? I don’t ever need a rear seat, right now it’s holding down my throw over saddle bags. Thanks in advance.

I have a trunk and saddle bags, works well for most of what I do. (you can click my user name to find links to my albums for better looks)

It really Depending on how much you need to carry in the luggage and how much you want to spend.

1) Definitely saddle bags and saddle bag supports. At the very least that gives you a place for your rain suit, dry socks, spare gloves, a few choice tools, water bottles, and snacks, and you don't have to dig through your other luggage to get it.
2) a trunk

3) or sissy-bar and luggage rack to carry a sissy-bar bag, about the size of a backpack with straps to cinch it to the bike, holds a good deal and not so bad to unmount and take inside with you.

4) or a luggage rack only (no sissy bar) and you can strap a decent size duffel bag to the luggage rack and pillion seat using the rack and the saddlebag supports for tie-down points.
5) or luggage rack only (no sissy bar) and a big plastic milk crate, a scrap of plywood inside the crate and another scrap of plywood under the luggage rack and you should be able to find 4 spots you can run a bolt and nut through the plywood without having to drill the crate or the rack, and it will hold a good size bag.

2009 Honda Rebel 250; 2009 Honda Shadow 750 Spirit"The bravest thing for me to do is admit when I am wrong" - unknownHRF Answer #1 You should take the MSF Rider CourseHRF Answer #2 You need to clean your carburetorHRF Answer #3 Sorry we assumed if you didn't say otherwise

+1 on all suggestions so far...I'll just chime in: you may want to consider looking into "Biker's Friend" which is a circular sturdy plastic pipe inside of a tough vinyl cover....it doubles as a wonderful backrest. Look it up on google...I remember there being a video of it being used on various sized bikes.

Be sure to brace it or vibration will break the welds. I carried a sleeping bag, small tent, clothes, and some other stuff on a three thousand mile trip. Also had saddlebags. It has carried a 57 pound bag of dog food, couple gallons of juice and a few other items from the store. My 73 lb. dog also rides back there, so it holds quite a load.

I got a set of Viking bags as saddlebags. The installation wasn't as straightforward as their video made it seem, but in the end it did work. They give you two options: throw over install or bolt on install. I rode last summer with the throw over option, and recently converted it to bolt on. Honestly, throw-over is mostly better, except that their lower tie off to the bracket is not ideal. Would be nice if they made it 2-3 straps that could actually be tightened up. It held, just wasn't great. The reason I dislike the bolt-on option is that the Rebel's frame is just a little too small to make their bags easily attachable, and now they don't open all the way so I have to fight the lid.

Overall though, I really like the bags. They are big (lots of grocery store trips for me with these), and very solid. They PU leather over hard plastic, which sounds like it's crappy, but in reality it's actually fantastic. They are very rigid, so there is 0 sag. It also comes with a "tail light relocation kit" which really is just a C bracket so you can put the turn signals by the license plate. Biggest issue with that was that the stock Rebel tail lights have two protrusions, requiring two holes, and of a different size. I drilled the bracket to make it work. Not my prettiest job, but it holds.

As for sissy bars, you can buy a Chinese made one for about $100. I got a used one for $90, which worked out well. Sort of a pain to install, but once on, you don't really need to take it off.